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Review
. 2025 Oct;15(10):1032-1069.
doi: 10.1002/alr.23596. Epub 2025 May 15.

Expert Strategies: Skull Base Reconstruction-Global Perspectives, Insights, and Algorithms through a Mixed Methods Approach

Edward C Kuan  1 Vidit Talati  2 Jagatkumar A Patel  3   4 Theodore V Nguyen  5 Arash Abiri  5 Jonathan C Pang  5 Khodayar Goshtasbi  5 Lauren Liu  5 John R Craig  6 Peter Papagiannopoulos  2 Katie M Phillips  7 Bobby A Tajudeen  2 Nithin D Adappa  8 James N Palmer  8 Ahmad R Sedaghat  7 Eric W Wang  9 Vijay Anand  10 Pete S Batra  2 Marvin Bergsneider  11 Manuel Bernal-Sprekelsen  12 Benjamin S Bleier  13 Paolo Cappabianca  14 Ricardo L Carrau  15 Roy R Casiano  16 Paolo Castelnuovo  17 Luigi M Cavallo  14 Marc A Cohen  18 Iacopo Dallan  19 Jean Anderson Eloy  20 Ivan H El-Sayed  21 James J Evans  22 Juan C Fernandez-Miranda  23 Marco Ferrari  24 Sebastien Froelich  25 Paul A Gardner  26 Christos Georgalas  27 Stacey T Gray  13 Ehab Y Hanna  28 Richard J Harvey  29 Sang Duk Hong  30 Peter H Hwang  31 Daniel F Kelly  32 Doo-Sik Kong  33 Ming-Ying Lan  34 John Y K Lee  35 Corinna G Levine  16 James K Liu  36 Davide Locatelli  37 Cem Meço  18   38   39 Erin L McKean  40 Piero Nicolai  24 Gurston G Nyquist  41 Kazuhiro Omura  42 Thibault Passeri  25 Zara M Patel  31 Maria Peris Celda  43 Carlos Pinheiro Neto  44 Danny M Prevedello  45 Mindy R Rabinowitz  41 Shaan M Raza  46 Pablo F Recinos  47 Marc R Rosen  41 Zoukaa B Sargi  16 Rodney J Schlosser  48 Theodore H Schwartz  49 Raj Sindwani  50 Carl H Snyderman  9 Aldo C Stamm  51 Brian D Thorp  52 Mario Turri-Zanoni  17 Marilene B Wang  53 Wei-Hsin Wang  54 Ian J Witterick  55 Tae-Bin Won  56 Bradford A Woodworth  57 Peter-John Wormald  58 Gabriel Zada  59 Shirley Y Su  28
Affiliations
Review

Expert Strategies: Skull Base Reconstruction-Global Perspectives, Insights, and Algorithms through a Mixed Methods Approach

Edward C Kuan et al. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2025 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: There is limited consensus on endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) reconstruction principles. This study aims to generate comprehensive themes regarding ESBS reconstruction by pooling the experiences of ESBS experts, with comparison to a literature review of current published evidence.

Methods: Structured qualitative interviews of ESBS experts regarding postoperative management and reconstruction of various defect locations were conducted.

Results: A total of 68 experts comprising 40 academic teams across 13 countries with an average of 18 years of ESBS experience were included. We propose 10 stepwise algorithms for common skull base reconstruction scenarios based on these expert interviews. When available, the nasoseptal flap is used for all high_flow cerebrospinal leak defects. Multilayered reconstruction is favored at all anatomical subsites with increasing number of layers for increasing defect size and complexity. Heterogeneity exists in terms of inlay technique and materials, free grafting versus various pedicled flap options for low-flow defects or in the absence of a nasal septum, nasal packing, tissue sealant, lumbar drain use, and postoperative management. Commonalities and discrepancies between experts were summarized.

Conclusion: Skull base reconstruction and post-ESBS management is highly complex with a wide variety of practice patterns and expert strategies. Further research of higher quality evidence is warranted to identify optimal management patterns, though the current work aims to inform surgeons on these controversial areas by drawing from numerous experiences.

Keywords: CSF leak repair; anterior cranial fossa; cerebrospinal fluid leak; encephalocele; expert algorithms; posterior cranial fossa; postoperative precautions; sella; skull base reconstruction; suprasellar.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Expert reconstruction algorithm for a sellar defect with a “weeping” leak. ECM, extracellular matrix; FMG, free mucosal graft; INF, intranasal flap (excluding nasoseptal flap); NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Expert reconstruction algorithm for a sellar defect with a visible hole in the diaphragm. ECM, extracellular matrix; FMG, free mucosal graft; INF, intranasal flap (excluding nasoseptal flap); NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Expert reconstruction algorithm for suprasellar (transtuberculum/transplanum) defects. ECM, extracellular matrix; ENF, extranasal flap; FL, fascia lata; FMG, free mucosal graft; INF, intranasal flap (excluding nasoseptal flap); NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Expert reconstruction algorithm for anterior cranial fossa (transcribriform/transethmoid) defects. ACF, anterior cranial fossa; ECM, extracellular matrix; FL, fascia lata; INF, intranasal flap (excluding nasoseptal flap); NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Expert reconstruction algorithm for posterior cranial fossa (transclival and/or craniocervical junction) defects. ECM, extracellular matrix; ENF, extranasal flap; FL, fascia lata; INF, intranasal flap (excluding nasoseptal flap); NSF, nasoseptal flap; PCF, posterior cranial fossa. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Expert reconstruction algorithm for traumatic ethmoid defects. ECM, extracellular matrix; FMG, free mucosal graft; NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Expert reconstruction algorithm for iatrogenic ethmoid defects. ECM, extracellular matrix; FMG, free mucosal graft; NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Expert reconstruction algorithm for frontal sinus posterior table defects. ECM, extracellular matrix; FMG, free mucosal graft; NSF, nasoseptal flap; PT FS, posterior table of frontal sinus. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
Expert reconstruction algorithm for spontaneous ethmoid leaks and encephaloceles. ECM, extracellular matrix; FMG, free mucosal graft; NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
Expert reconstruction algorithm for spontaneous sphenoid sinus lateral recess leaks and encephaloceles. ECM, extracellular matrix; FMG, free mucosal graft; NSF, nasoseptal flap. Italicized rows indicate most common response among experts for specific inlay/onlay.
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 11
Expert algorithm for workup of suspected early postoperative CSF leak, with frequencies of expert responses.
FIGURE 12
FIGURE 12
Graphical depictions of inlay and onlay skull base reconstruction based on defect site, in accordance with the algorithms highlighted in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. All are sagittal views unless noted otherwise. Original illustrations are adapted from the style of Snyderman et al. [34]. (A) Sellar defect with a “weeping” leak and sellar defect with a visible diaphragm defect with no septum. (B) Sellar defect with visible diaphragm defect with septum. (C) Suprasellar defect. (D) Traumatic or iatrogenic ethmoid defect and spontaneous ethmoid meningoencephalocele/CSF leak. (E) Posterior table of frontal sinus defect. (F) Spontaneous sphenoid (lateral recess) meningoencephalocele/CSF leak (coronal view). (G) Anterior cranial fossa defect with septum. (H) Anterior cranial fossa defect without septum. (I) Posterior cranial fossa defect. Abbreviations: ACF, anterior cranial fossa; ECM, extracellular matrix; ENF, extranasal flap; FL, fascia lata; FMG, free mucosal graft; INF, intranasal flap (excluding nasoseptal flap); NSF, nasoseptal flap; PCF, posterior cranial fossa; PT FS, posterior table of frontal sinus; SS, suprasellar.

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